Tag Archives: Bible journaling

How To Journal Your Daily Devotions

by • on 9:59 AM • in Journaling 2012

 

5 Things You Will Need

  • Bible
  • Journal
  • Pen
  • Reading Schedule
  • Day planner or a note pad (use for writing down distracting thoughts as you journal)

Creating a Journal

  • If you cannot afford to purchase your own journal, you can easily make your own by using a spiral notebook or a three ring binder. Or simply use any generic book designed for journaling.
  • Begin by creating a table of contents in the front of your journal. At the top of each page of the Table of Contents, write down: Date, Scripture, Title/ Topic, and Page. If you are using a spiral notebook, be sure allow several pages in the front of your journal to list all of your journal entries.
  • Create your daily journaling pages. At the top of each of the journal pages, write down: Date, Scripture, Title and Page. You will journal on each of these pages using the S.O.A.P. acronym.
  • At the back of your journal create a personal prayer list. Allow several pages for all your prayer requests. Write down Date, Prayer, Date Answered.

Beginning to Journal – “3/20”

  • Spend the first few minutes praying, asking God to speak uniquely and specifically to your heart for that day. Begin by thanking Him for the day and the opportunity to hear from Him. This is the key to making the most of your journaling time. Ask God for your daily bread, and then allow Him to open your ears to His Word.
  • Spend the first 20 minutes reading the daily assigned portion of scriptures and read for one thought. Read for you. Don’t think about others and how your reading might apply to someone else. Be selfish during your devotional time; focus on hearing what God has for you. Ask God for one thought and as you are reading; be open to God causing a single verse to really be your focal point for that day. God will no doubt show you many insights as you read, but read for the one main thought God has for you that day. Be open to God speaking uniquely to your present circumstances. Often we approach God with an idea of what we think we need to hear from Him, when in fact God will often speak to another issue that may be even deeper than we realize.
  • Allow the Holy Spirit to mentor you through the men and women of God’s Word as you read. Don’t become overly focused on coming up with an idea of what to journal. Just relax and enjoy the presence of God as you read. Sometimes the first verse you read may be your thought for the day, but keep reading and be open to God showing you other truths.
  • Often I have felt as though a certain verse and thought was going to be my focal point for the day, but as I read, God changed it and gave me another even deep insight in another area. God know exactly what you need today, and He promises to meet you every day as you seek Him. Trust Him, knowing that He desires to equip you and empower you each day. Do not beat yourself up if something doesn’t come quickly.  Just prayerfully seek the Lord as to what He would like for you to know. If the regular reading is too large for you to finish in 20 minutes consider the lighter reading schedule. It is better to read and understand.
  • Spend the next 20 minutes journaling on that one thought that God is speaking to your heart about for that day. Use the acronym ‘S.O.A.P.’
  • Give your devotional a title
  • End your journal daily bible journaling with 20 minutes of prayer, and then share it with someone!
  • Be sure to record the Date, Scripture, Title & Page number in your Table of Contents in the front of your journal.

S  for Scripture Open your Bible to the reading  found under today’s date of your reading schedule. Take time to read and allow God to speak to you. Read straight through only highlighting specific verses that stand out to you, but be careful not to get caught up reading footnotes and cross references.  When you are done, look back at what stood out to you and then begin to look for a specific verse that spoke to you that day, and write the book, chapter and verse in your journal. There may be more than one, but prayerfully ask the Lord what He desires for you to focus in on.

O  for Observation  Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own works, in your journal. You are just observing right now what the verse (s) is saying and what it means or a general idea of what is going on. Observe who, what, when, why and where, actions, reactions and write down your thoughts but be careful not to apply it just yet. (Who, What, Where, When, Why?)

A for Application  Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to you and your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today or believe God is showing you through the lives and situations, both bad and good in the text. Ask yourself “what does God want me to do with what I have just read?”

P for Prayer  This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to

listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

 

Sample Journal Entry

 Date:  11/21/11     Title:  The Musings of a King                     Page No. 10

S   I Chronicles 11:18 – So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord and he said “Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at risk of their own lives?

O David didn’t have to shout at his men to go and bring the water. He didn’t command them to bring it. He simply mused about it. Just the suggestion of the king was enough to motivate these men to action.

A That kind of faith action is the epitome of honor and the fruit of that labor is worthy for only One, the Lord of Lords. There is no higher worship than to be able to recognize the heart sighs of the King, and that is sufficient to move me to take risks, and to break through the lines that the enemy has drawn.  How often I wait for a shout, but that does not please the King. I often wait for the hammer to fall before I move, yet I lift my voice in rapture to the latest worship chorus and I call that worship. Instead, worship at its highest level is developing my heart to such a level of sensitivity that even the musings of my King are enough to move me to action.

P Father, may I be so close to You that I can hear Your musings and be moved to action!

 

Sample of Table of Contents                                                                            

Date           Scripture                             Title / Topic                             Page

11/21/11   I Chronicles 11:18        The Musings of A King                   10

 

* This journaling technic is taken from thedivinementor.com

* If you have questions, email me @ peterfriese@calvarychapel.com

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“Meeting My Needs” 6.14.11

by • on 5:39 PM • in 320, Journaling, Life Journal

Scripture

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

 

Observation

What a great verse from a great chapter, from a great epistle, from a great man of God! God WILL supply all our needs! God is not broke. No matter what is going on with the economy, God is not restricted! The treasures and riches of the Lord are not based on Wall-Street, the value of a dollar or the global economy. God’s riches are secured in Christ Jesus, through Christ Jesus and because of Christ Jesus. Our requirement is to trust in Him who WILL supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Note here that God WILL supply. It’s not that He might, or that He could, but rather God’s promise is that HE WILL supply ALL our needs. Paul says that God will supply all our needs. All, not some, but all! The key is that He supplies all our needs. He may not always supply all our wants, but He promises to supply all our needs. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 that we are to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (all our needs) will be taken care of.

 

Application

What a promise! All throughout God’s Word He is constantly assuring us of His great provisions because of His great love for us! God delights in taking care of us! It’s not a ‘drag’ for God to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, because God is not cheap, He is not broke. I think that for many people who are greedy, they see God as greedy. For people who are generous, they see God as being generous. The idea in life is not to die with the most toys and the largest portfolio; I believe God wants us to be as generous with each other as He is to us! If I see God as a generous God, and He has called me to be like His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, then I too must be a generous person. I don’t need to fear tomorrow. I can be generous and wealthy at the same time. As God supplies all of my needs and even many of my wants, I too am to imitate Him as a generous person. My goal in life should not be to die with the most toys or the largest bank account, but rather I desire to be noted as a generous person – the type of person who’d give the shirt off my back to help a stranger, and even more generous with those whose names are written in the ‘Book of Life’!

 

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I just want to tell You how much I love You! Thank You for all of Your wonderful provisions for my life! You truly do supply ALL MY NEEDS and You often even bless me with many of my desires! You are a Good God, a wonderful God, a generous God and I love You! Thank You for this gift of eternal life that is mine because of Your incredible love for me in sending Your only Begotten Son, Christ Jesus to die for my sins. I just don’t have words that adequately express my love for You! You are wonderful! You are faithful! You are my best friend and I implicitly trust You with every detail of my life. Guard my heart today. Keep me from wandering away from You. May I abide in Your love, Your grace, Your mercy and Your generosity! And if I am ever tempted to doubt all Your wonderful provisions for my life, may I take comfort in this wonderful promise from Philippians 4:19.

Thank You Lord that You will never leave me nor forsake me!!! Help me to remember that as You continue to faithfully supply all my needs in Christ Jesus, that Your provisions may come in the form of an extra job to help meet my family’s needs. I love You and it is my joy to surrender to live for Your glory in all that I do! In Jesus’ holy name I pray, amen.

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“Moving On!”

by • on 12:43 PM • in 320, Exhortation, Life Journal

Scripture

Matthew 12:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

 

Observation

Jesus had just healed the man with the withered hand and the Pharisees response was one of hatred. They hated God and they rejected His Messiah. In their own minds they were really something special. In their own minds they really thought that they had it going on. But in the end, they really proved that they neither loved nor knew the God. Only a man who loves God is merciful, compassionate towards others, and desires the best for others. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. Only a man who knows God can display His love for others. In this situation, the Pharisees proved who they really loved – themselves, and they were listening to the father of lies.

 

Application

Christ is all about love, mercy and Forgiveness. For those who take a stand against these things, they take a stand against the Lord Himself. I am amazed here at the separation between good and evil. Jesus did a very good thing in healing this man’s withered hand and yet it was a tremendous conviction to those who were there. It must have been convicting to them to see how merciless they were, which resulted in their desire to kill Christ. Conviction either produces repentance, or a desire to harm the person who God uses to bring the conviction – in this case Christ Himself. What Jesus did convicted them because it’s easier to act ‘religious’ than to actually love another person enough to show them mercy and compassion.  Too many people today think of themselves in favor with God, yet their hearts reveal a lack of mercy and compassion for others. God condemns these types of attitudes. As they say “You only love God as much as you love the person you love the least.” Jeremiah the Old Testament prophet once put it so eloquently in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? It’s easy to hide behind the facade of religion, but the true act of love is seen through the actions of mercy. In John’s Epistle he says 1 John 4:20-21 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

One of the interesting observations I note here is that Christ didn’t fight with those who attacked Him…he just moved on! I think that one of the devil’s greatest distractions to those following the Lord, is the constant battle to stop; engage in battle with others and seek to defend yourself. Jesus didn’t do that…He just moved on! I believe that if Christ had stopped and argued with these accusatory Pharisees, He would have not only been wasting His time, He would actually have been giving validity to their cruel accusations. I also note here from this text, that when Christ moved on, those who were with Him followed Him, and He healed them all. Battles are tough and they take a toll on all who are involved. Physically, emotionally and spiritually, and after every trial, we need to be healed. One of the greatest ways to get discouraged is to dwell in the battle and not keep moving forward following Jesus. When I choose to keep moving and not engage the enemy, Christ heals my heart. God has the power to heal the hurts of those who inflict damage from a lack of mercy.

 

Prayer

Father today I thank You for the gift of mercy. Make me a merciful Christian. Help me to remember that ‘with the mercy I give others, You will one day judge me with’. I love you and I thank You for the love that You put in my heart, even for those who seek my harm. God keep my eyes on You alone, don’t let me become distracted in the battle, but keep me moving forward and may I always realize that only You can heal my hurts. May I always be slow to anger. May I always give people the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to make things right, even as You do for me. May I always be ready to completely forgive those who trespass against me. Fill me with Your love today. Not the love the world knows – to love those who love them, but Your love – the love that loves the unlovely. The love that can still be merciful to the unmerciful. The love that forgives those who won’t forgive me. May I follow hard after You Lord and may you guard my tongue, my thoughts and my responses to everyone I see today. I love You and thank You Lord that You will never leave me nor forsake me! I praise You Lord that ‘since You are for me, nobody can stand against me!’ In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.

 

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“Love Thy Neighbor” (Daily Devotions 3.14.11)

by • on 11:44 PM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

Galatians 5:14 (NASB)
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

O – Observation

In this one word (love), the complete law is fulfilled. To love ones neighbor is the final mark of truly being sold out to Jesus Christ! Many  people think that keeping the law is what impresses God and grants them salvation, joy and fulfillment. But in reality, only through love is the law fulfilled. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ – God floods our hearts with His love (Romans 5:5), thereby the complete law is fulfilled. The evidence of salvation is meted out in a person’s love for their neighbor. The disciples asked Jesus “who are my neighbors”, and the Lord responded by saying “everyone God puts in your life are your neighbors”. That makes it really hard because that means we don’t get to choose our neighbors, and therefore we don’t get to choose who we will love. We must love everyone that God puts in our lives. Paul had been struggling against the Judaizers who had been falsely teaching the Christians of Galatia that they needed to keep the law and be circumcised in order to truly be ‘saved’, but that is simply not true. The purpose of the law is to condemn. The purpose of the law is to be a schoolmaster that simply reveals that all men are under condemnation for having broken the law. Only through repentance and faith can one escape the penalty of God’s justice. The evidence of being born again is love, especially love for God’s people. That love is meted out through serving others. In this one word ‘love’, the complete law is fulfilled – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”.

A – Application

 What a huge conviction! As Paul says in 1 Cor. 13, without love, I am nothing. Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ is not determined by how much money I give, how often I read my bible, or even by how many times per week that I attend church. My true love for God is demonstrated by my love for my neighbor! Man is that convicting! I often don’t love my neighbor as God loves me and when God shows me this, He is simply showing me that I am really not in love with Him the way that I think that I am in love with Him. I must not love in word and tongue only, but in action and deed if I am to truly love my neighbor as myself. It has been stated that “I only love God as much as I love the person I love the least!” Lord help me!

P – Prayer

Lord help me today to love my neighbors as myself. Sometimes I think it would be easier to move than to love my neighbors, but Lord I know that it’s really a flaw in my walk with You that prevents me from loving others as You love me. I surrender to You today Lord and I ask that You would fill me with Your perfect agape love for all that you bring across my path today. Your love is perfect, Your love is unconditional, Your love is merciful. When I struggle to love others, may I open my heart to You and allow you to love them through me. Bless this day I as seek to live for You. Amen

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“Fruit of Repentance” (Daily Devotions 2.19.11)

by • on 1:16 AM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

Acts 26:19-20 (NASB)
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

O – Observation

The Apostle Paul was disliked and hated by many. In fact, at this point in his live, ‘modern success values’ would have said “Paul you should have written several best seller books by now and be the pastor of a mega church.” But that’s not necessarily the evidence of success that God uses. Paul was what many today would consider a failure. He was hated by many and the Jewish leaders were seeking to put him to death. At the end of Paul’s life, he ends up in Rome, dying alone with only Luke and a few earthly possession. Why was this? How could this be with such a man of God? All because Paul preached the simple message of faith and repentance towards God – ‘turn from your sin, repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ’ was Paul’s message. That message was not popular then, and it’s still not a popular message today. Jesus said in Matthew 7, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” According to Christ, the vast majority of people today will perish. Paul kept his message simple, “If you repent and put your trust in Christ, then your life will bear the fruit of repentance.” People will be able to look at your life and see the changes that God has made in you since you became a believer. Paul is stating the same thing that Christ stated – “If you are truly saved, then your life will reflect it through the way you live.” Paul didn’t live in the life he lived in following Christ to be saved. Rather he lived the life he lived – in obedience to Christ, because he was saved. Our works don’t save us, they merely prove what we really believe in. True salvation will always produce the fruit of righteousness.

A – Application

I must continue to stand strong and ‘Preach the Word’! God has not called me to make friends, be popular or to write books – simply preach the message of  ‘repentance and faith towards Jesus Christ’. Some will respond, but many others wont. I must never become consumed with what others say and do. I must simply be wholly given to the Preaching of the Word of God

P – Prayer

Father today, set my eyes and heart fully upon the calling YOu have put upon my life. Make me a better preacher. May I never draw back from preaching the truth to appease man. I love You and seek the boldness of Your Spirit as I speak the truth in love today. Amen

 

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“My Assignment” (Daily Devotions 2.18.11)

by • on 12:17 AM • in 320, Exhortation, Life Journal

S – Scripture

“ From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
31 And this is what they must carry as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 and the pillars around the court with their sockets, pegs, and cords, with all their furnishings and all their service; and you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry.  Numbers 4:30-32 (NKJV)

O – Observation

Here again God is clearly spelling out the duties of each of the priest. Not only did God not call each priest to have to do all the work, but God also broke down each duty and assigned each work load by name to each of the priests. That way each day, each priest knew exactly what he was and wasn’t supposed to be doing. Just as important in what God had assigned each priest, was for them to realize what He had NOT assigned them to do. Every boat is designed to only hold so much load. No matter how large a boat maybe, if you over stress it, it will sink. Even the Titanic was limited in what it could haul and endure. Had God assigned all the priest ‘general duty’, the result would have been nothing but chaos and very few things would have been accomplished. Then ultimately none of the priests would have made it to age 50 (retirement then)  because they would have burnt out from exhaustion.

A – Application

God has not called me to be everywhere to everyone. Today as I head back into the office, God has assigned to me by name, the specific ‘boards and sockets’ that I am to carry. I’m not called to carry the entire temple. Even Jesus had a very specific calling. His ministry was not to be everything to everyone, nor was it to be everywhere whenever someone called His name. Jesus let a lot of things go, and that was what enabled Him to end HIs ministry with the declaration “it is finished”. Now to me, that doesn’t sound right, because the way I think, ‘Lord, how could Your ministry be finished when there are so many people who still have never heard of You. And there are still so many people who need to be healed???” Yet, the Lord was able to say “It is finished” simply because He focused on and stayed true to His ministry. He didn’t live to impress people or seek to meet anyone’s approval. He just stayed focused, so at the end He could say “it is finished”. I’m also reminded of the Apostle Paul who at the end of his life declared “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  Hallelujah! That excites me to realize that today, God has called me to carry ‘my 5 boards’…not 6 or 7 boards, but just my 5. I need to stay focused on being the best ’5-board carrier’ that I can be. And when I walk out of the church, if I see other boards laying on the floor (projects undone; phone calls unmade; computers un-scanned), I just need to walk away and stay true to my God-given responsibilities. One step at a time, 5 little boards – nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. I may be able to carry 6 or 7 or even 10 boards for a while, but what will happen is, when I take on too much – I will burn out before my race has ended.

P – Prayer

Father today, You load me up with my daily responsibilities. Guard me from those who’d seek to over burden me. Guard me from self-inflicted pressure to do too much. Help me stay focused on only the 5 boards You place upon my shoulders. Give me wisdom to know what my duties are and the courage to say ‘no’ when someone suggests adding another board. Thank You Lord that Your yoke is easy, and that Your burden is light. When I start to feel overwhelmed Lord, teach me to stop and pray, and ask You if I’m trying to do too much. Thank You for the warning signals that keep me from total failure. Guard my heart today, I love You! Amen

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